SUN RA "Super Sonic Jazz" LP Original Saturn VG+ 1957

$

1,386

SUN RA "Super Sonic Jazz" LP Original Saturn VG+ 1957 - Deep Groove

Condition (LP/cover): VG+ (close to NM) / VG+
Label/Cat #: SR LP 0216
 
Notes: Released 53 years ago this month, here's Sun Ra's first long-playing release and the first record
to be released on the Saturn label in an edition of 500 (though details are scarce). It has the original
gold label with deep groove, matrix numbers read: H7 OP 0216 & H7 OP 0217. This record has a beautiful
shine and plays wonderfully, in fact it looks virtually unplayed except for what looks like 2 sleeve scuffs.
I chose VG+ to be on the safe side, but believe me, it's brilliant. The sleeve is in great shape too, slightly
more yellow than in the photo, but all seams are tight except for a very slight ding in the corner (pictured)
and a 1" beginning of a split on the bottom edge of the opening. Otherwise it's tight and solid.

Recently a jazz collector of 30 years came to my house and noted that this was the best copy
of Super Sonic Jazz that he'd ever seen. This record will be packed correctly and shipped safely. Please
let me know if you have any questions or remarks regarding my information provided.

I'm soon going to be moving across the country and will be selling off most of my collection. If you
like this record, check back for others like it.

Here's some additional historical information:

Super-Sonic Jazz is an album by Sun Ra, recorded in 1956 at RCA Studios, Chicago. All songs are written
and arranged by Sun Ra, except 'Soft Talk', written by Julian Priester. Super-Sonic Jazz was the first
album to be released on Saturn records, the label run by Sun Ra and Alton Abraham, and was one of
only three albums by Sun Ra to have been available in the 1950s. (The other two being
Jazz by Sun Ra, also released in 1957, and Jazz in Silhouette, released May 1959.)

Super-Sonic Jazz was the first album to be released on El Saturn Research, the label run by Sun Ra
and his business partner Alton Abraham. Set up in 1955, they released their first singles, including a
doo-wop group The Cosmic Rays and the Arkestra's Saturn, at the beginning of 1956, and had recorded
the whole of their first album by the end of the year, to be released in March 1957. El Saturn is now
considered, along with Charles Mingus and Max Roach’s Debut label and Harry Partch’s
Gate 5 label, 'one of the very first and most active artist-owned record labels'. Often pressed
in editions of 75 - sometimes as few as 20 were made for specific concerts - the records
would be manufactured using local black businesses, and often put together in Abraham's own home.

All songs written by Sun Ra except Soft Talk, written by Julian Priester:

Side A:
1. India - (4.52)
2. Sunology - (5.43)
3. Advice To Medics - (2.05)
4. Super Blonde - (2.39)
5. Soft Talk - (2.45)
6. Sunology pt2 -

Side B:
1. Kingdom Of Not - (5.35)
2. Portrait Of The Living Sky - (1.52)
3. Blues At Midnight - (6.34)
4. El Is A Sound Of Joy - (4.00)
5. Springtime In Chicago - (3.54)
6. Medicine For A Nightmare - (2.25)

Musicians
On Springtime in Chicago, recorded at Balkan Studios, Chicago, April 13, 1956:

Sun Ra - Piano, Electric Piano
Art Hoyle - Trumpet, Percussion
Julian Priester - Trombone
James Scales - Alto Sax, Percussion
John Gilmore - Percussion
Pat Patrick - Baritone Sax, Percussion
Wilburn Green - Electric Bass
Robert Barry - Drums

On Super Blonde, Soft Talk, Medicine for a Nightmare and Advice to Medics,
recorded at RCA studios, possibly June 16, 1956:

Sun Ra - Piano, Electric Piano, 'Space Gong'
Art Hoyle - Trumpet
Julian Priester - Trombone
John Gilmore - Tenor Sax
Pat Patrick - Baritone Sax
Wilburn Green - Electric Bass
Robert Barry - Drums
Jim Herndon - Tympani, Percussion

On Kingdom of Not, Portrait of The Living Sky, Blues at Midnight, El Is A Sound of Joy,
India & Sunology I+II, probably recorded at Balkan Studios, Chicago, September or October 1956:

Sun Ra - Piano, Electric Piano, 'Space Gong'
Art Hoyle - Trumpet, Percussion
Pat Patrick - Alto Sax, Percussion
JJohn Gilmore - Tenor Sax, Percussion
Charles Davis - Baritone Sax, Percussion
Victor Sproles - Bass
William Cochran - Drums
Jim Herndon - Tympani, Percussion

Mixed at RCA studios, Chicago, February 14, 1957, and released in March with an initial pressing of 500.

Please look below for shipping costs & check my feedback - I'm good at eBay!

NEAR MINT (NM) Otherwise mint but has one or two tiny inconsequential flaws that
do not affect play. Covers should be close to perfect with minor signs of wear or age just becoming
evident: slight ring-wear, minor denting to a corner, or writing on the cover should all be noted properly.

VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+) The record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully.
Not too far from perfect. On a disc, there may be light paper scuffs from sliding in and out of
a sleeve or the vinyl or some of the original luster may be lost. A slight scratch that did not
affect play would be acceptably VG+ for most collectors.

VERY GOOD (VG) Record displays visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl
luster, light surface scratches, groove wear and spindle trails. Some audible surface noise, but
should not overwhelm the musical experience. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of
these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc.

GOOD (G) Well played with little luster and significant surface noise. Despite defects, record
should still play all the way through without skipping. Several cover flaws will be apparent,
but should not obliterate the artwork.

POOR (P) Any record or cover that does not qualify for the above "Good" grading should be
seen as Poor. Several cover flaws.